Diapers with waistband reinforcements serving as after-use face wraps

ABSTRACT

Disposable diapers are provided with an attached after-use front covering which before and during use lies in one or more pieces on the back side of the diaper but is hingeable around the diaper and may, as it lies on the back side, function as a multiple layer waistband reinforcement providing improved pin tear resistance.

United States Patent H 13,sss,999

Inventor Joseph S. Wlnberg Wilmette, lll.

Appl. No. 835,027

Filed June 20, 1969 Patented June 22, 1971 Assignee The Kendall CompanyBoston, Mass.

DlAPERS WITH WAISTBAND REINFORCEMENTS SERVING AS AFTER-USE FACE WRAPSltlClllnnJDnVringFlgs.

lnt.C1 A611 13/16 Field ofSearch 128/284, 286, 287, 290, 296

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,815,026 12/1957 Meyer128/287 3,035,578 5/1962 Elmore..... 128/290 3,369,545 2/1968 Wanberg128/287 Primary ExaminerCharles F. Rosenbaum Attorney-Rowland V. PatrickABSTRACT: Disposable diapers are provided with an attached afier-usefront covering which before and during use lies in one or more pieces onthe back side of the diaper but is hingeable around the diaper and may,as it lies on the back side, function as a multiple layer waistbandreinforcement providing improved pin tear resistance.

DIAPERS WITH WAISTBAND REINFORCEMENTS SERVING AS AFTER-USE FACE WRAPSThis invention relates to disposable absorbent articles for thecollection of body excretions and exudates, such as diaper, sanitarypads, wound dressings and the like.

Such articles, in one of their disposable diaper forms, are fabricatedfrom fluid pervious absorbent material which is unwoven, backed with asingle thickness of impervious plastic sheet material. In order that thediaper will be pliable, readily conformable and soft, as well as tominimize costs, the plastic backing is very thin and it, together withthe absorbent material, has a pinning strength that falls far short ofthat present in a conventional washable woven diaper. The disposablediapers are subject to tearing during or after the operation ofinserting safety pins, thus permitting possible loosening of the diaperor causing points of possible leakage at the tears.

In my prior Pat. No. 3,369,545, I proposed the addition of a singleextra ply of plastic material on the back side of the diaper andattached thereto along two or more sides of the absorbent body in orderto provide a cavity therebetween into which the absorbent body, afteruse, could be inverted through an end opening communicating with thecavity to enclose soil deposited on the absorbent body. During use themarginal end portions of the extra ply did add some pin tear resistancein the waistline areas.

This invention is founded on my observation that there is available in adiaper having such an extra ply, sufficient material in the extra ply toprovide a much strengthened waistband construction and that thatmaterial may be so disposed as to strengthen the waistband whilepreserving the main function of the extra back ply as a soil enclosingsheet after use. Thus, instead of disposing the back ply in singlethickness over the back side of the diaper where it actually issuperfluous initially and during use, as the absorbent body back sheetalone provides a fully adequate barrier against leakage, it can begathered in multifold configuration if it is in one piece at one end ofthe diaper and if it is in two pieces at both ends of the diaper andprovide a thickened and thereby strengthened pinning area where it isgathered, while still maintaining it available to cover the soiled frontportion of the diaper after use by a hinging rather than an invertingaction.

In accordance with this invention then, the extra back ply, if unitary,is permanently attached to the absorbent body along only one side of theabsorbent body to thereby form a hinge line, the remainder of the extraply being disposed in partially or fully folded overlying relation tothe back side until after use, at which time the extra ply can bereleased except at the hinge line and then hinged about the hinge linefor spreading in single thickness over the front face of the diaper.

Where the added ply is unitary and held all folded in accordion or otherfashion near one end of the back side until after use, it affordsmultilayers materially increasing the pin tear strength at that end ofthe diaper in the waistband area over that afforded by only a singleextra ply as in my aforesaid patent.

The back ply can be either a folded integral portion of the imperviousback sheet of the absorbent body or can be a separate ply permanentlyadhered to the absorbent body along the hinge line. Moreover, when it isdesired that the extra impervious back ply cover most or all of the backside of the diaper during use, the added back ply may have folds in thearea of one or both waistband portions and then extend in singlethickness over other or the remaining portions of the back side of thediaper. Suitable adhesives or other means can be used to form aninseparable joint at the hinge line but readily separable attachment ofthe folds one to another.

Alternatively, the extra back ply can be in two pieces, one hinged atone edge of the absorbent body and the other hinged to the opposite edgeof the absorbent body, each being folded or rolled so that the entirewaistband area of the diaper has extra pin tear resisting plies. Usuallythese pieces will be halfsize compared to a unitary back ply.

The above features and various embodiments of the invention are shownmore fully in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventionin a general form corresponding to that which it attains when it ispinned upon the body of an infant.

FIG. 2 is a further view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 when it is laid outflat front side up prior to application to the infant;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 after the diaper has beenused and after the soil covering sheet has been hinged over and spreadacross the front of the diaper after use;

FIG. 4 is a view of a modified form of construction;

FIGS. 5,6 and 7 are similar views of further modified forms ofconstruction;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are back side views of the diaper of FIG. 6 illustratingcertain features which may be incorporated into any embodiments of theinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the diaper is fabricated with an absorbentbody which has a fluid pervious front face 10 and a fluid imperviousback face 12 which may be constituted of a ply of fluid imperviousplastic sheet material. When applied to an infant the composite includesa crotch portion 13 intermediate a back waist portion 14 and a frontwaist portion 16.

18 is an added ply of supple fluid impervious plastic material which, inthe form shown in FIG. 1, is integral with the plastic sheet 12 andconnected thereto along a top waistline fold line 20.

The material of the back ply 18 is rolled and flattened against the backside and held in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by adhesiveinterposed between the folds or in other manner until after use.

After use and detachment of the diaper from the infant, the foldedgatherings of the ply 18 may be released and unfolded and, as shown inFIG. 3, hinged about the hinge line 20 until it lies in single thicknessover the remainder of the diaper covering soil deposited in the crotcharea. Alternatively, the ply 18 may be hinged only l into extendingposition and then the soiled absorbent body may be folded over the soiland then over the ply 18 into which it is wrapped.

In FIG. 4 only a portion of the back sheet 18a is folded on itself inoverlying accordion fashion at the waistband and the remainder 18bextends in single thickness over the remainder of the back side of thediaper. As shown, the folded portion includes three layers of the backsheet held by adhesive between the folds as in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 5, the end of sheet 18d opposite the hinge line is also foldedinto multiple layers 19 to add pin tear resisting layers at both theback and front waistline areas.

In FIG. 6 the back ply sheet 18 is not integral with the sheet 12 but isattached thereto with a single infold 22 by a permanent adhesive as at24.

In FIG. 7 the extra ply, instead of being unitary as in FIGS. 1-6, isformed of two separate half pieces 26,28, (adhered to or unitary withthe absorbent pad plastic ply). which are separately folded at oppositeends of the absorbent body and adhesively held in folded position untilafter use where they provide extra pin tear resistance throughout theentire waistline area of the diaper as in FIG. 5. When released afteruse of the diaper, these half pieces can be separately folded over theopposite ends of the diaper to cover the soil, it being understood thatthe separate pieces can be so dimensioned as to be slightly overlappingin the hinged-over covering position, if desired.

FIG. 8 illustrates tacking down the remainder of the extra back ply 184:with adhesive along the margins where it extends over the back area ofthe diaper. Lines of perforations 29 are then made inside of the adheredmarginal portions of the back sheet on all sides thereof except wherethe hinge line 20 is present. The central portion may then be lifted offthe back by tearing the ply at the lines of perforation.

FIG. 9 illustrates how the separable fastening illustrated in FIG. 8 maybe accomplished by readily rupturable spot adhesives in the areas 30.

It is to be understood that either of these same tack down means 29 or30 may be used for back ply 18b or lbd, or a combination thereof can beused for any of the plies 18b, Me or 18d. In FIG. 5, if perforations ofFIG. 8 are used, they can be located inside of folds 19, so that folds19 remain attached to absorbent body when sheet 1% is torn from the backfor afteruse hinging.

Obviously after the back sheet or sheets and absorbent body have beenhinged into coil covering position, the entire diaper can be gatheredtogether or folded and tied or otherwise fastened with the entireabsorbent material and soil being wrapped in impervious material fordisposal without spillage.

What I claim is:

l. A disposable diaper comprising an absorbent body having a fluidpervious surface on its front side and a fluid impervious surface on itsback side and having back and front waistline portions joined by anintermediate crotch portion, a sheet of supple fluid impervious materialcovering at least a portion of the back side of said absorbent body,

said sheet being relatively inseparably attached to said absorbent bodyalong one edge of said sheet forming a permanent hinge line for saidcovering sheet,

and the remainder of said covering sheet being separably held on theback side of said absorbent body for detachment therefrom after diaperuse and relative hinging movement about said hinge line to extend oversoil deposited on the fluid impervious surface of the crotch portion ofsaid absorbent body.

2. A diaper as claimed in claim I wherein the absorbent body isrectangular in shape and said hinge line extends across one of saidwaistline portions of said diaper.

3. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said impervious surface is thesurface of a fluid impervious sheet integrally connected to saidcovering sheet by a fold at said hinge line.

4. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said covering sheet is foldedover at least one of said waistline portions at an end of the diaper toform a waistband portion for said diaper which includes at least twosuperimposed narrow layers of said covering sheet.

5. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the entire covering sheet isfolded in accordion fashion to form a multiple layer strengthenedwaistband portion for said diaper which includes at least threesuperimposed narrow layers of said covering sheet.

6. A diaper as claimed in claim ll having adhesive holding the saidremainder of said covering sheet on the back side of said absorbentbody.

7. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said remainder of saidcovering sheet has a perforated tear line for permitting readydetachment of said remainder of said covering sheet from the back sideof said absorbent body for hinging about said hinge line.

8. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said covering sheet extendsover substantially the entire back side of said absorbent body inmultiple folded thickness adjacent one waistline portion of the diaperand in single thickness over other portions of the back side of saidabsorbent body.

9. A diaper as claimed in claim ll wherein said covering sheet extendsover substantially the entire back side of said absorbent body, inmultiple folded thickness adjacent both waistline areas of the diaperand in single thickness over the intermediate area of the back side ofsaid absorbent body.

10. A disposable diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the covering sheethas an unfolded area which is less than the area of the back side ofsaid absorbent body and said diaper has another covering sheet held onthe back side of said absorbent body and hinged thereto along anopposite edge of said sheet for relative hinging movement about itshinge line to extend over a portion of the fluid impervious surface ofthe crotch portion of said absorbent body not covered by the first namedcovering sheet when hinged about its hinge line into covering relationover said fluid pervious surface.

P0-1050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 9 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo. 3,5 5,999 Dated June 22, 1971 Inventor(s) Joseph S. wanberg;

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 9, change "coil" to --soil--;

In the Claims:

Claim 1, line 28, change "impervious" to --pervious--;

10, line 33, change "impervious" to --pervious--.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of November 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GQTTSCHALK EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR.

Acting Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

1. A disposable diaper comprising an absorbent body having a fluidpervious surface on its front side and a fluid impervious surface on itsback side and having back and front waistline portions joined by anintermediate crotch portion, a sheet of supple fluid impervious materialcovering at least a portion of the back side of said absorbent body,said sheet being relatively inseparably attached to said absorbent bodyalong one edge of said sheet forming a permanent hinge line for saidcovering sheet, and the remainder of said covering sheet being separablyheld on the back side of said absorbent body for detachment therefromafter diaper use and relative hinging movement about said hinge line toextend over soil deposited on the fluid impervious surface of the crotchportion of said absorbent body.
 2. A diaper as claimed in claim 1wherein the absorbent body is rectangular in shape and said hinge lineextends across one of said waistline portions of said diaper.
 3. Adiaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein said impervious surface is thesurface of a fluid impervious sheet integrally connected to saidcovering sheet by a fold at said hinge line.
 4. A diaper as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said covering sheet is folded over at least one of saidwaistline portions at an end of the diaper to form a waistband portionfor said diaper which includes at least two superimposed narrow layersof said covering sheet.
 5. A diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein theentire covering sheet is folded in accordion fashion to form a multiplelayer strengthened waistband portion for said diaper which includes atleast three superimposed narrow layers of said covering sheet.
 6. Adiaper as claimed in claim 1 having adhesive holding the said remainderof said covering sheet on the back side of said absorbent body.
 7. Adiaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said remainder of said coveringsheet has a perforated tear line for permitting ready detachment of saidremainder of said covering sheet from the back side of said absorbentbody for hinging about said hinge line.
 8. A diaper as claimed in claim1 wherein said covering sheet extends over substantially the entire backside of said absorbent body in multiple folded thickness adjacent onewaistline portion of the diaper and in single thickness over otherportions of the back side of said absorbent body.
 9. A diaper as claimedin claim 1 wherein said covering sheet extends over substantially theentire back side of said absorbent body, in multiple folded thicknessadjacent both waistline areas of the diaper and in single thickness overthe intermediate area of the back side of said absorbent body.
 10. Adisposable diaper as claimed in claim 1 wherein the covering sheet hasan unfolded area which is less than the area of the back side of saidabsorbent body and said diaper has another covering sheet held on theback side of said absorbent body and hinged thereto along an oppositeedge of said sheet for relative hinging movement about its hinge line toextend over a portion of the fluid impervious surface of the crotchportion of said absorbent body not covered by the first named coveringsheet when hinged about its hinge line into covering relation over saidfluid pervious surface.